TOYOTA bosses were left with plenty to think about after Prince Charles officially opened a £700 million plant in June 1993.

Without any prior warning of what His Royal Highness intended to say, the Prince suggested that the firm should make its expertise available to new firms.

The Prince of Wales said he was impressed with Toyota's commitment to building links with local suppliers but said: "A major company like Toyota can go even further as part of their contribution to the community.

"They can make their expertise and networks available to growing smaller firms that are not their suppliers."

His Royal Highness referred to the young entrepreneurs he had met at an earlier engagement at Derby's Rosehill Business Park and said they were the kind of people who could benefit.

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Toyota director Bryan Jackson said he had no prior warning of what the Prince was going to say but said: "I personally am quite intrigued by it.

"It's a very interesting idea. I'm sure it will be something we'll now be looking at. I think what the Prince said was very impressive and he showed a genuine interest in manufacturing."

Workers at the Burnaston factory were full of admiration for His Royal Highness.

Tom Handy, from Swadlincote, said the Prince was 'amazing' while others said he was 'really charismatic' and put workers at ease.

Tim Clarke, from Derby, was full of admiration for Toyota. He said: "The Japanese have the ability to give orders and get rules carried out. Their philosophy is very different. The Prince said he couldn't imagine a British company going ahead with a project like this in a recession."